Jobs for the Girls

Occupational segregation has a major effect on the gender pay gap in the UK and deprives employers of potential recruits, a fact of particular importance in areas of skills shortages. The Committee's report examines occupational segregation and the associated tendancies for predominantly female occupations to be lower paid and undervalued. It focuses on four key aspects: the lack of knowledge about career options as a barrier to young people choosing non-traditional occupations; problems in accessing training in atypical areas; difficulties with alien or sometimes even hostile business culture; and the lack of availability of part-time or flexible working in the higher-paid occupations and at senior levels in all occupations. The Committee expresses its support for the work of the Sector Skills Councils in addressing this problem and in disseminating good practice, and argues that other organisations, such as trade associations and Regional Development Agencies, should become more active in this area. The Committee also calls on the Government to review equal pay legislation to try and make the principle of 'equal pay for work of equal value' more effective.